Signal-control apparatus.



l w l It E l ltd-r or" e SIGNAL-CONTROL APPARATUS.

.ilpplieation filed January 31, 1918.

To all 1/1720: may concern:

Be it known that tlnonon S'rnnnns, a

citizen of the United States t America, residin gat Astoria. COlIl'it Y of Queens, Long lsland. State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sim-.il-tontrol Apparatus. of which the followine' is a specification.

. This invention relates to signaling appa ratus and more particularly to signalingapparatus fcr a venicle whereby the driver of another vehicle or a traliic oiliccr. pedestrian. or the like mav be apprised of the movement of the veh cle bearing the signaling apparatus.

the invention is especially directed to control and operate parts which are readily constructed. assembled and applied to the steering gear. tootand emergency brakes. reverse movement mechanism. etc. of the vehicle. and with the view of attaining positive cooperation of the desired signal indications.

The invention is also directed to control and operate parts constructed to be proof from dust. moisture and changes in atmospheric conditions. as well as toohproot to acts of tampering bv the operator of the ve hicle or 1 meddling persons.

la the most preterrcd terms of the invention the control part comprises a cvlindrical housing inclosinc; suitable cont-act elements and a relativelv movable arm having provision of means for attachment to the steering gear. tor example. of the vehicle. said arm having the contact element or pluralitv of elements cooperating with said first named contact element to close or control an electric circuit" energizing the lamp or other indicator. to illuminate or otherwise indicate the movement of the vehicle. for example. Rig'ht or Left. in all instances. Similar means are provided for the foot lever brake and the cmergencv brake to illuminate or actuate a Slow or Stop or equivalent. indication: likewise for the re verse lever. the indication Back or equivalent.

(lther ieaturxs and objects of the invention are more fully described in the fol lowing description and the accompanying drawings. n which- Figure 'l is a diagrammatic top plan view.

oi an i-illlnnlllllcilt ot the invention: and

Fig. '3 is a detail view of one term of con- Specification 0t nettcrs Patent.

" 1 W J! a e n talented 1 ch. in.

Serial 1-30. 214,789.

trol part, of my invention, on a somewhat enlarged scale.

l tefeirinpto the drawings. the chassis indicated by 1.. the front wheels bv s and. the rear wheels by In this embodiment of the invention. l have indicated the steering mechanism provided with a control part. the foot brake pedal with a similar control part and the reverse lever with a control part. the operated or indicating parts being preterabl assembled as a unitary signaling device.

The control part t of the steering arrangement is shown having its housing 5 secured by suitable brackets (l, (5 to the front axle 7 of chassis 1. The movable element 8 of the control part at. for the steering mechanism. is attached bv the link 9 to the cross rod 10 connecting the knuckles l1, 12, of the two front wheels 2 respectively. T he movable element 8 is provided with the contact- 13 cooperating wvitlrthe contacts 14:, 15, to respectively indicate movement of the vehicle to the right or to the left as b) the respective indications Right and liel tf The aforesaid control part t is shown eir larged in Fig. 2. and may comprise the hollow. substantiallv cylindrical contacts 1%. l5. respectivelv provided with the binding posts 16. 17 for attachment for the wires l9... 19. respectively. In the particular wiring arrangement shown in Fig. 1 utilizing the storage batterv 20 ot the starting or other clectricall actuated device of the vehicle. or by a separate source of electrical energy. if desired. one terminal of the battery is grounded (indicated diagrannnaticallv bv the wiring 21). As shown, the wire 18 is connected with the electric bulb for illuurinating the indication Right. whereas the wire 19 is connected with the bulb 23 for illuminating the indication Left.

The movable element 8 of the control part 4- comprises a rod of insulation. through which traverses the electrical conductor 2% connecting with the movable contact; 13. The movable contact 1% as shown may be a cylindrical contacting rod, split to insure maintenance of good contact. The contact Ll is located within the housing 5 and at a spaced distance from the contact 15 to provide an extent of reciprocable movement: of the contact 15 within the housing;- i through which extent of movement no r cation is given, neither right nor lea.

The purpose of-this is to enable the operator to proceed?fstraight-ahead by slight deflections iii-the forward movement of the machine, without confusing a driver of another vehicle,'or otherparty by any right or left indication. Also, incident to Wear and tear of the control mechanism, a sufficient play of the contact 13 should be allowed for.

The exact spacial distance between said as in any approved arrangement.

The indication system is preferably provided with the pilot lamp 27 or equivalent, which is lighted or otherwise actuated when any indicator is set in indicating position. As shown, the pilot lamp 27 is connected in 1 series with the respective indicating lamps,

I as

gm one side of the battery 20.

. Thus, upon movement of the steering arrangement either to the right or to the left, in excess .of the clearance 25, either the indicating bulb 22 will be energizedthrough the conductor 18 or the indicating bulb 23 through-the conductor 19, the said circuits being respectively completed through the source 20, pilot lamp 27, ground 21 and the conductor 24. a

Similar arrangement of indication is pro-- vided for the brake, such as the pedal brakc 30, or emergency brake or equivalent. To the movableelement, such as the lever 31, of the brake 30, I connect the reciprocablecontact element 81* of the control part exprovide'd with one or more interiorholiow contactt l ft. Wh'en an indication is xlesired in one direction of the control part of the vehicle, a in this instance of the pedal'brake, one of he hollow contactsinterior of the control part may be omitted, or left dead as to any electrical connection.

The reciprocable element 8 is provided with the contact 13 and the hollow contact 149 is connected by the wire 32.with the inwise showing the indication Stop or Slowor equivalent. For nrposesof simpliclty of electrical connection, the indicating bulb 33 is connected 'inparallel with Y, the aforesaid indicating bulbs 22,23; also, b5

the pilot lamp 27 is connected in series with -"the indicating bulb 33 to the source 20. The

til'i movable contact 13 is connected by'the con ductor2etto ground 21.1

Similarly, the speed control mechanism comprising a lever 34' is similarly provided with a control part 4", and an operatedpart or indicating bulb 35, In the particular arrangement illustrated, the control" part is, arranged to 'give }an .1nd1cation. when the speed controlmecliamsm is' noved intake ilrating bulb 33, for illuminating or other the movement of the control elements of the vehicle. The control part of my indication mechanism may be either strapped to a suitable fixed support by means of the strap 6, 6, or by means of an eye-lug 40, permitting pivotal movementof the casing 5 when required in certain instances of use.

The housing or casing 5 is preferably provided with a suitable sealing threaded closure 50. Upon removal of the closure 50, the interior contacts may be withdrawn to be repaired or replaced, or varied in adjustment of position within the casing or housing. The sealing means 50 precludes the entry of dust or other foreign substance into the housing or casing 5, upon reciprocation of the rod 8 supporting the movable contact 13. The housing of the control part and the supporting rod of the movable contacts are preferably of insulating material.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications. may be made without departing from the invention, as defined by the appended claims. a

claim;

1; The combination with a control element of a vehicle, of a control part cona-mova is contact within said housing, and

a reciprocable rod supporting said movable contact, said rod projecting into said housing through said suitable opening, and means connecting said rod with said control element.

2. The combination with a control element of a vehicle, of an indicator arrangement comprising a control part controlled by said control element and having a closed housing, said housing being provided with anopenlng, a hollow contact within said housing, a movable contact, a rod e r'te l'ding throu h said opening and supporting said. movali .opening and meansccnnecting said rod with said control element.

le contact, means for sealing said 3,--Thfe combination. with a control elenicnt of a vchicis, of-an indicator arrangecomprising a control part controlled by said control element and having a oioscd housing, said housing being provided iwith i opening, ahollow contact within said nouszng, means fol" acijusta'oi'y positioning said contact, a movooic contact, a rod exnding through sai. opening and supportsaici movable contact, means for seaiing poning am means connecting said roci aiciicontroi element.

Tho combinacion with a control cicment- 01"- a vehicle of an indicator arrange- ZQ'El'li) comprising controi part controiisd o said control element and having; a ciossci nousing, said housing having an opening,

plurality of spaced hollow contacts Within said housing, a movabis contact, a rod sic tending through said opsnmg and supporting said movable contact, means for sealing said" opening and. means connecting saici rod with said control element. v I

5. Th combination with a control cicmerit of a vchicie, of an indicator arrangement comprising a control part controlled by said control element and having a closed housing, said housing having an opening, a

plurality of spaced hollow cont-acts within said housing, means for adjustaiiiy position ing saici contacts Within saici housing, a movable conzact, a rod extending through said opening and supporting said movaoie contact, means for sealing said opening means connecting saici rod with said. control element.

In iestimony Wusisof I 11 vs signed specification this 1 2th day of January, 1918,

GEORGE 81363513315 

